In the breathtaking setting of Carrara’s marble quarries, beneath the historic Ponti di Vara, a truly unique cultural event takes place today: the reenactment of the “Lizzatura dei Marmi”, organized by the Fondazione CRC and the Compagnia Lizzatori Carrara Association.
Once again this year, the event offers tourists and enthusiasts a captivating cultural experience that brings back to life an ancient tradition deeply rooted in the history and identity of the Carrara region. A team of lizzatori, through extraordinary physical effort and true technical acrobatics, will guide a marble block weighing approximately 20–25 tons down the steep via di lizza, with slopes reaching up to 100% in certain sections. The block will be made to slide from the quarry platform down to the loading area, just as it was done centuries ago, under the expert direction of the capo lizza.
Far from being a simple show, this is a powerful tribute to the resilience, ingenuity, and solidarity of generations of quarry workers. In a scene framed by the white marble mountains and the majestic 19th-century bridges, the reenactment vividly recalls how marble was once transported to the “poggi” (loading stations), before being hauled away on carts drawn by Maremma oxen to be carved and sculpted.
The event not only bridges the past and present, but also celebrates a legacy of strength, perseverance, and community spirit. For those in attendance, it promises to be an unforgettable cultural experience—a living testimony to a profession that helped shape the soul of Carrara.
